England looking to curb Stanlake impact

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England batsman Dawid Malan says they are planning to curb the impact of Australia fast bowler Billy Stanlake when the teams meet in a Trans-Tasman T20 tri-series clash in Hobart on Wednesday.

Stanlake, the tallest ever cricketer to play for Australia, was the catalyst for the Aussies when they beat New Zealand in Sydney on Saturday in the opening game of the tournament.

The Adelaide Strikers paceman took the first three wickets of the innings to peg the Black Caps back and they never recovered to post a sub-par total of 117/9 in 20 overs, the hosts eventually going on to win by seven wickets.

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England, who will go into the game high on confidence after a four-one ODI series victory over the Aussies, are aware of the threat that Stanlake poses.

Malan said of Stanlake: “You can’t really miss him, he’s a tall bloke. He looks a fantastic bowler, swings it when he pitches it up and bowls at good pace.

“I think he is going to be a challenge, but that’s the excitement of playing international cricket: you get to come up against guys like that.

“For us it’s about trying to put him off his game and finding ways to score off him. He might bowl exceptionally but eventually someone might get hold of him and people might work things out.”

After the match in Hobart all three teams will move over to New Zealand to complete the tri-series.

Australia Billy Stanlake Dawid Malan England

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